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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Laura Armstrong

Strictly mega deal for Shirley Ballas to stay on show amid quit fears due to trolling

Shirley Ballas has been offered more money to stay on Strictly after the head judge hinted she could quit the show.

Worried BBC bosses put a mega deal on the table after the TV favourite told us she struggled to cope with online trolling during the last series of the dance show.

Shirley revealed that she’d “had conversations” about leaving Strictly.

But insiders last night said she is expected to sign a new deal within days.

A source said: “Shirley had the bosses in a real panic that she might decide to walk and focus on other projects, like her books and dance competition, The Ballas Cup. They pulled out all the stops to offer her a raise. Thankfully, it looks like she will accept.

Judge Shirley on Strictly (BBC/Guy Levy)

“The trolling is still very fresh in her mind but she is keen to focus on the positives – and she has hired someone to manage her social media so won’t see the most vicious remarks.”

Shirley, 62, who has been on the Strictly judging panel since 2016, said last month she had hit an “all-time low” after receiving a barrage of abuse online.

She has been on the Strictly judging panel since 2016 (BBC/Guy Levy)

The former pro dancer revealed she had not decided if she would rejoin fellow judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke this year.

She also said she had decided not to wed her partner, West End actor Danny Taylor, 48, but they were still an item.

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